9.18.2009

There is a small shop here on Kwajalein where you can buy crafts from all over Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. You can find jewelry, music, wood carvings, woven mats and hats and all kinds of shells. It's fun to send this kind of stuff back home because it's so exotic.

9.16.2009

Every month there is a dinner on the beach available to those that would like a little something different than the whole mess hall scene. Granted the mess hall is free and this most certainly is not but there are some advantages. The first of course is the scenery. The second being the quality of the food.

Not every time, but sometimes, the food is significantly better than our usual fare and it makes the whole experience as close to eating in a restaurant as we can get around here.

9.11.2009

We have a rare breed of vending machine here on island...the Kwaj vending machine. There are actually a few types here; the empty/rusty machine and the cigarette/food machine.

The empty/rusty ones are the most severely neglected ones that never seem to get refilled. You put your money in to discover that there is nothing available that you want and when you try to get your money back, the coin return lever is so rusted that it won't engage.

Your choices at this point are to either choose something you really don't want and suffer through it or give it away, or leave your money in there, in essence...give it away. You can try to get a refund from the vendor but that's really more trouble than the dollar you put in there is worth. Actually, I guess in some ways, these machines are like reverse ATM's.

The cigarette/food machines really crack me up. They usually contain your typical vending machine fare; cookies, candy bars and gum but then there is also the tuna and crackers, Cup of Noodles and several brands of cigarettes to choose from as well. I'm not sure why I think this is so funny but it makes me chuckle every time I get something out of those machines.

9.03.2009

Not much new and exciting has been going on lately. There hasn't been any wind for sailing, I've been too lazy to go snorkeling or kayaking lately; mostly I've just socializing and taking care of chores and doing everyday things.

I've put together a new bowling team for the next league and there are several Yacht club and holiday events coming up though so I should be able to post something interesting soon.